Description

The San Marzano may be the most famous tomato variety on the planet, thanks to its long history of cultivation around Naples and its use in sauces, Margherita pizza, and the traditional Neapolitan ragu (meat sauce). It is widely considered to be the best flavored tomato for sauce. Despite its immense popularity, San Marzano tomato has been added to the Slow Food Ark of Taste, which represents varieties in danger of extinction. The reason it has been listed is that during the past 20 years, commercial farmers have switched from the delicate San Marzano to new hybrids that can withstand mechanical production. The decline in large-scale production has reduced demand from farmers who grow the seeds. But if home gardeners continue to request San Marzano, its future is more secure. Fortunately, the demand for San Marzano is very strong among gardeners who value flavor above all else. It is one of our top-selling varieties, and we are grateful to Franchi for supplying top-quality seeds with excellent germination.

Here is additional information about San Marzano tomatoes from the Slow Food Ark of Taste listing:

Getting into a field of ripe San Marzano tomatoes is a unique experience: you are stunned by the fragrances of freshly cut grass and spices emanated by this tomato also when it is still green and persistent even in the canned product. All aromas reminding of the past, when salads tasted of tomato and sun and did not look like alien imperishable, odourless and flavourless objects. Up to twenty years ago, the very fertile territory around Naples and the sarnese-nocerino countryside in the province of Salerno, particularly suitable for vegetable growing, was mainly farmed with San Marzano tomatoes, a very delicate variety, with a thin skin, which keeps well also after being preserved, but which needs to be handled with care. However, due to diseases and low competitiveness in terms of cultivation costs, more productive hybrids became widespread, as more resistant to diseases and more suitable for mechanized work, but with poorer quality and organoleptic properties. The canning companies producing peeled tomatoes started purchasing these hybrids, thus endangering indigenous San Marzano.San Marzano tomatoes are grown like vines and are harvested seven, eight times or more from July to September, only when perfectly ripe and after sunset. After picking them up, the tomatoes are rinsed with water and put in the cans, then cooked for 13 minutes. Nothing else is needed: no additives, no preservatives. It will keep well for at least one year. The several small artisan firms, mainly employing women, peel the tomatoes. But the real personality of San Marzano is seen in the plate: the sauce made with these tomatoes literally sticks onto pasta and does not release any acidity.The San Marzano tomato is inextricably linked to Neapolitan pizza (Margherita), and is also an ingredient in traditional Neapolitan ragù (meat sauce).

Reviews (4)

Mary D13th Sep 2014

Tasty high producer

I grew three of these in large pots on my deck. Though planted late (mid May), the plants really thrived (thanks in part to an automated watering system we also set up). The tomatoes ended up smaller than the Roma tomatoes I planted at the same time, but the plants were much more productive and the fruit was exceptionally flavorful. Great for roasting and making paste. Next year we plan to plant more of these.

Don12th Jun 2013

Loaded vines

This is the first San Marzano type that have really been successful with in Central Florida. Great fruit, good disease and bug resistance. Fruits are plentiful, large, meaty and flavorful.

Dennis in North Carolina22nd Mar 2012

best ever

Last year i grew my first San Marzano Tom's and they where great. Large very meaty little water and few seeds, great for making a sauce.
This year i order more seeds and will plant more.
I gave some to friends (I had to really like them) and now they are hooked. It seems I'm starting a new tom. fad here in our little town.
I am 100% Italian and love these tom's

Lauri3rd Feb 2012

One of the best paste tomatoes!

Very large San Marzano fruit. Plentiful, thick and meaty. Flavorful for sauces, soup and canning. This is one of my favorites

San Marzano Redorta. Franchi Special Selection. Named for a mountain in the Alps, this is a very large (10-12 ounce) San Marzano type plum tomato. Indeterminate. Large, vigorous plant. This has real...